The Iola register., 1887-12-23

in which the slaves were set free and the
lands were restored to those who had sold
them. We hear now Of leases for ninety
nine years, but with the Jews all sales or
leases expired the fOrtyLninth, or year Of
jubilee. There was great rejoicing when
the time came for the children or the grand
children to get back the old homestead Of
their ancestors.
But the most popular and important of
all mile-stOnes is the anniversary Of the
birth of Christ. 1t is very common every
where to celebrate birthdays. Americans
make big fuss over Washington's birth
day because he is called the Father of His
Country. Most every family makes little
fuss over the birthday of the parents or
children. They don't t0ot horns or pop fire.
crackers, Tut they have an extra good din
ner and fix up some little present as q
pleasant surprise. The 4th Of July was
the birth of Nation, and so the Nation al
ways celebrates that day. But Christmas
belongs to oil civilized countries. It is q
blessed heritage and belongs to all alike
the rich and the poor, the bond and the
free, the King and his subjects.
Christians began to observe Christmas
about fifteen hundred years ago In course
of time the young people rather lost sight
u =
day Of feasting and frohc. They sang
songs because it was said that the shep-
herds sang songs at Bethlehem. They made.
presents to one another because the wise.
men from the East brought presents to-
the young child and its mother.
The Roman Catholic church hae observed
these celebrations for centuries and tho
church of England took them up and so did
the Protestants Of Germany and other coun--
tries. In great painting Of the Nativity, by
Raphael, there Is seen q Shepherd at tho.
door playing on q bagpiye. The Tytolese
who live on the mountain slopes of Italy
come down to the valleys ON Christmas.
eve. They come caroling sweet songs and,
playing on musical instruments. There
used to be many curious superstitions about
Christmas. It was believed that an OK and
an ass that were near where the Saviour
was born bent their knee in devotion, and 50.
the people believed that all the domestic
animals went to prayer on Christmas.
night. They believed that when the rooster
crowed for midnight all the wizards and
witches and hObgoblins and evil spirits.
fled away from the habitations of men and
hid in hollow trees and caves and deserted
houses for twelve days.
Mr.. Carlyle said that every nation should
have hero and should worship him-not as.
god or in place of the true God, but the.
next thing to it. He says it cements the.
people together and makes them proud Of
their country and content with their gov.
ernment. This hero may be real or imagin-.
ary, but the people must believe that he.
fought for them or died for them or was tho.
founder Of their institutions or their re-
ligiou. The ancient Norsemen had Odin.
and Thor for their heroes The Persians.
had their genii and their fairies; the Hin
docs their rakshar; the Greeks and Romans.
their wonderful gods and goddesses, such
as Jupiter and Luna and Hercules and Vul--
can and Neptune. The more enlightened o.
people becomes, the more sublime are their
superstitions. The uncivilized Indians arc
mystified, and can only ''see God in clouds
and hear Him in the wind'' The native,
Africans have crocodiles and serpents and
owls for their gods. Some Of them Of o
higher grade set their faith in foxes and
rabbits and jaybirds. Down South the good
negroes used to tell tho white children
stories at night about the tar baby, and the,
bear and the bee tree, and foxes and wolves,
but the bad negroes told US about witches.
and ghosts and Jack o'lanterns and raw
head and bloody bones, and we would listen
until we didn't dare to look round, and we
wouldn't have gone from their cabins to the
'big house" alone for a world full Of gold.
Napoleon said that all men were towards,
by night, but it was those old negroes that
made US so. and our generation has never
recovered from it. Christmas was great
season for the negroes in slavery times. 1t.
was feast and frolic for q whole week
and their children were just as good as tho
white children then aud all frolicked to-
gether.
But at this joyous season there should be-
nothing but love and kindness and good will.
For twelve days. If no more, let envy and.
hate and malice and selfishness all be ban--
ished to the caves and the wilderness.
Then rich ard merry Christmas to the rich.
And . bright and happy Christmas to the poor;
So their hearts are joyous It doesn {. matter,
which
Has the ane velvet carpet on the door.
For riches bring trouble when they como,
And money leaves pain when It goes;
But everybody now should have . Httls sum
To brighten up the year q: its close
BILL AR.
NEVER wish an Unmarried woman Of mr.
certain age . Happy New Year. She 10,
more years already than she known
rrho< IN do Nth Wish hor n unaPrv (.hpsUH.